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Hengrui Pharma Reports 2026 Interim Results as Innovation and Globalization Continue to Drive Business Momentum

On August 19, 2026 Hengrui Pharma ("Hengrui" or "the Company") reported its financial results for the first half of 2026. During the reporting period, innovative drugs remained the Company’s key growth driver, while globalization initiatives continued to validate the global value of Hengrui’s innovation portfolio.

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Financial Highlights

In the first half of 2026, Hengrui reported revenue of RMB15.46 billion. Drug sales revenue was RMB13.95 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 1.87%. Innovative drug sales increased by 16.38% year-over-year and accounted for 63.16% of total drug sales, with non-oncology innovative drug sales increasing by 73.97% year-over-year and emerging as an increasingly important growth driver.

Net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company was RMB4.47 billion, up 0.34%. R&D investment totaled RMB4.61 billion, representing 29.8% of revenue.

Pipeline and Regulatory Highlights

Hengrui continued to advance its pipeline in China during the reporting period, obtaining seven innovation-related approvals, including two Class 1 innovative medicines, one Class 2 innovative medicine and four additional indications. At the end of the reporting period, nine marketing applications had been accepted for review by China’s National Medical Products Administration, while 17 clinical programs had advanced to Phase III, 22 to Phase II, and 10 innovative assets had entered Phase I clinical development.

Hengrui also reported progress across its metabolic pipeline. Two Phase III studies of ribupatide injection, a GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist, in China for type 2 diabetes reported positive topline results, supporting a planned NDA submission. HRS-7535, an oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, met all primary and key secondary endpoints at Week 44 in a China Phase III obesity study, with continued weight loss through Week 50 and mean body-weight reduction of up to 11.1%. An NDA submission is planned.

Global Partnerships and Business Development

Hengrui continued to advance its globalization strategy through diversified collaboration models. Since 2023, the Company has completed 13 overseas business development transactions, including out-licensing, NewCo and strategic alliances, with a total potential transaction value of approximately US$42 billion. These collaborations include leading global pharmaceutical companies such as BMS, GSK and others.

Among the diversified collaboration models Hengrui has explored, NewCo has also seen important progress in 2026. Kailera Therapeutics completed its Nasdaq IPO in April 2026, becoming one of the largest biotech IPOs at the time. Braveheart Bio also successfully listed on the Nasdaq Global Market on August 6, 2026.

Scientific Recognition

During the reporting period, 204 research findings related to Hengrui products were published in academic journals and received international recognition. Hengrui participated in the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting for the 16th consecutive year, with 91 studies accepted, including 11 oral presentations—a new high for the Company. Research in non-oncology areas was also presented at major international congresses, including the American Diabetes Association, International Stroke Conference, World Congress of Nephrology‌, American College of Cardiology, American Academy of Dermatology, and European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology.

Outlook

Looking ahead, Hengrui will continue to advance its innovation and globalization strategy, while further pursuing its dual-growth strategy across oncology and chronic diseases. The Company will strengthen its global R&D capabilities, pursue diversified international collaboration models, and continue to focus on delivering sustainable long-term value and bringing more high-quality innovative therapies to patients worldwide.

(Press release, Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, AUG 19, 2026, View Source [SID1234670232])

Monteris Medical Announces Publication of Landmark Study on 787 Brain Tumor Patients Treated with NeuroBlate® Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT)

On August 19, 2026 Monteris Medical, the leader in minimally invasive neurosurgery with its NeuroBlate System for magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT), reported the publication of the largest prospective dataset to date of patients undergoing LITT from its LAANTERN* study. Published in the distinguished Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO), this ninth manuscript from LAANTERN analyzes outcomes from 787 tumor patients treated exclusively with NeuroBlate across 25 U.S. centers, establishing a new benchmark for clinical evidence in minimally invasive neurosurgery and highlighting key factors linked to increased survival.

This LAANTERN analysis demonstrates that extent of ablation (EOA) is a critical determinant of survival, particularly in newly diagnosed glioblastoma and recurrent metastatic tumors. Patients who achieved ≥91% tumor ablation experienced significantly longer progression-free and overall survival, establishing EOA as a central driver of post-LITT outcomes in newly diagnosed glioblastoma brain tumors.

"LAANTERN advances how LITT is understood and applied in neuro-oncology," said Dr. Eric C. Leuthardt, principal investigator of LAANTERN, lead author of the study and a professor of neurological surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "I was an early investigator of this technology, and long-term outcomes from this large cohort will help us identify the patients who are most likely to benefit from this therapeutic option." Leuthardt treats patients at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, and is a research member of Siteman.

LAANTERN is the first – and remains the only – prospective multicenter study of this magnitude dedicated to LITT, with more than 1,000 patients enrolled and followed for up to five years. This latest publication from the LAANTERN study underscores Monteris’ sustained leadership and long-term commitment to generating rigorous, high-quality clinical evidence, culminating in outcomes data of unprecedented scale and significance for the field of minimally invasive neurosurgery.

NeuroBlate’s advanced engineering, including cooled laser probes that enable larger ablation volumes and the SideFire directional probe, which is specifically designed to address irregularly shaped lesions, optimizes the likelihood of achieving high EOA in real-world clinical practice.

For metastatic brain tumors, the study observed that earlier intervention, while lesions remain smaller, confers a survival advantage. This insight is particularly impactful for patients and providers as they make treatment decisions.

"These data show that timing matters," added Dr. Leuthardt. "Treating metastatic lesions earlier, before volume becomes prohibitive, improves patient outcomes and strengthens the role of LITT as a proactive cytoreductive option rather than a treatment of last resort."

Consistent with other publications from the LAANTERN study, patients undergoing NeuroBlate LITT experienced short hospital stays and rapid postoperative recovery, with the vast majority avoiding intensive care. Functional status and quality of life were largely preserved over time, with a favorable safety profile characterized by low complication and infection rates and few readmissions. Additional benefits included reductions in seizure burden and decreased reliance on steroids and anticonvulsant medications, supporting NeuroBlate as a minimally invasive option that promotes fast recovery while maintaining quality of life – areas of great importance to patients with brain tumors.

"Prior to the LAANTERN study, there was a lack of real-world evidence to support broad care team adoption, payer confidence and guideline inclusion," said Christa Seligman, senior director of clinical sciences at Monteris Medical. "It has been incredibly rewarding to lead a field that once did not have this foundation and to see that effort result in a publication of this caliber. Because of the dedicated LAANTERN clinical investigators and their patients, we are proud and humbled to continue leading with high-quality evidence that advances patient care."

*About LAANTERN

LAANTERN (Laser Ablation of Abnormal Neurological Tissue Using Robotic NeuroBlate System, NCT02392078) is a post-market study designed to evaluate the performance and utilization of the NeuroBlate System to generate real-world evidence and guide standard of care practice. This is the first prospective multicenter laser ablation study. All sites operated under an IRB-approved protocol and received rigorous data monitoring to ensure quality and consistency. LAANTERN enrolled over 1,000 patients in the United States and followed them up to five years. Outcomes included safety, quality of life, health economics, procedural outcomes, seizure freedom, and survival.

About the NeuroBlate System

Monteris Medical develops and markets innovative MR‑guided laser ablation systems that enable minimally invasive, robotically controlled brain surgery – often referred to as laser ablation, LITT (laser interstitial thermal therapy) or SLA (stereotactic laser ablation). The company’s NeuroBlate System is designed for adults and children aged two and older and uses laser technology to precisely destroy abnormal brain tissue, including certain brain tumors and specific areas of the brain that cause seizures due to epilepsy. NeuroBlate is the only LITT platform with a robotic interface that supports the targeted, safe delivery of laser energy and is studied prospectively. Multicenter publications on NeuroBlate show that patients typically experience short hospital stays, low rates of complications, improved quality of life and outcomes comparable to open surgical resection.

(Press release, Monteris Medical, AUG 19, 2026, View Source [SID1234670231])

Pillar Biosciences, LC-SCRUM-Asia and LSI Medience Announce Liquid Biopsy Screening Collaboration in Lung Cancer

On August 19, 2026 Pillar Biosciences, Inc. ("Pillar"), LC-SCRUM-Asia and LSI Medience Corporation ("LSI Medience") reported a collaboration to support genomic screening of blood-based samples from patients with lung cancer as part of the LC-SCRUM-Asia project in Japan.

Following approval of a revision to the LC-SCRUM-Asia project protocol, the participating organizations plan to begin testing in August 2026. The project is expected to include approximately 2,000 patients over a two-year period.

Pillar’s oncoReveal Essential+ assay has been validated at LSI Medience for use as a screening test for circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and cell-free RNA (cfRNA) samples collected from patients with lung cancer participating in the LC-SCRUM-Asia project. Testing will be performed by LSI Medience to support identification of genomic alterations relevant to the project’s research objectives.

"LC-SCRUM-Asia has established an important collaborative framework for advancing precision oncology research in lung cancer," said Daniel Harma, Chief Commercial Officer, Pillar Biosciences. "We are pleased that oncoReveal Essential+ has been validated at LSI Medience for screening both cfDNA and cfRNA samples and look forward to supporting this large-scale project in Japan."

"Rapid and reliable genomic testing is essential for identifying patients who may benefit from biomarker-driven clinical studies and emerging precision therapies," said Dr. Koichi Goto of LC-SCRUM-Asia. "The use of oncoReveal Essential+ through LSI Medience will provide the LC-SCRUM-Asia network with a highly accurate and accessible liquid biopsy solution for analyzing cfDNA and cfRNA from patients with non-small cell lung cancer, while supporting the rapid turnaround needed for clinical research."

Supporting blood-based genomic screening in lung cancer
Liquid biopsy testing can enable genomic analysis from blood samples when tissue is limited or when a minimally invasive sampling approach is desirable. By combining analysis of cfDNA and cfRNA, the LC-SCRUM-Asia project is designed to support broad screening for genomic alterations in patients with lung cancer.

The planned use of oncoReveal Essential+ within the LC-SCRUM-Asia project reflects the assay’s ability to support targeted NGS analysis from blood-based specimens within a decentralized laboratory workflow.

(Press release, Pillar Biosciences, AUG 19, 2026, View Source [SID1234670230])

Xspray Pharma invites to a conference call following receipt of CRL for Dasynoc

On August 19, 2026 Xspray Pharma reported to have invited investors, analysts and media to a conference call following the company’s receipt of a Complete Response Letter, CRL, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, in relation to the company’s New Drug Application, NDA for Dasynoc. The receipt of the CRL was announced in a press release earlier today, 19 August 2026.

Date: Thursday, 20 August 2026
Time: 09:00 CEST
Speaker: Blake Leitch, CEO of Xspray Pharma
Language: English

The conference call will be hosted by Xspray Pharma’s CEO Blake Leitch, who will comment on the content of the CRL, the main remaining questions from the FDA and the company’s view of the next steps in the process. The presentation will be held in English and will conclude with a Q&A session.

If you wish to participate via webcast, please use the following link: View Source

Via the webcast, you are able to ask written questions.

If you wish to ask questions verbally via the teleconference, please register using the following link: View Source

After registration, you will be provided with phone numbers and a conference ID to access the conference. You can ask questions verbally via the teleconference.

(Press release, Xspray, AUG 19, 2026, View Source [SID1234670228])

Merck and Moderna Announce Phase 3 INTerpath-001 Trial of Intismeran Autogene Plus KEYTRUDA® Met Endpoints of Recurrence-Free Survival (RFS) and Distant Metastasis-Free Survival (DMFS) in Patients With Completely Resected Stage IIB-IV Melanoma

On August 19, 2026 Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, and Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) reported positive topline results from the Phase 3 INTerpath-001 trial evaluating adjuvant treatment with intismeran autogene (intismeran; V940 or mRNA-4157), a novel investigational mRNA-based individualized neoantigen therapy (INT) being jointly developed by Merck and Moderna, in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in patients with completely resected stage IIB-IV melanoma. The trial met its primary endpoint of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and a key secondary endpoint of distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). This represents the first positive Phase 3 readout for an individualized neoantigen therapy (INT) and for an mRNA-based cancer therapy, as well as the first Phase 3 study to demonstrate a clinically meaningful improvement over KEYTRUDA alone, a standard-of-care immunotherapy, in the adjuvant setting for patients with resected melanoma.

At a pre-specified interim analysis, intismeran in combination with KEYTRUDA as adjuvant therapy demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in RFS and DMFS compared to KEYTRUDA alone for patients with completely resected stage IIB, IIC, III or IV cutaneous melanoma who had not undergone prior treatment with systemic therapy. In accordance with the trial protocol, the study will continue in order to evaluate other key secondary endpoints, including overall survival (OS).

The safety profiles of intismeran and KEYTRUDA in this trial were consistent with those observed in previously reported studies for the combination, with no new safety signals observed.

These data will be presented at an upcoming international medical meeting and shared with regulatory authorities.

"Today’s results represent a landmark moment for adjuvant melanoma treatment. This is the first Phase 3 study to show that intismeran, a treatment designed based on the unique mutational ‘fingerprint’ of a patient’s own tumor, given in combination with pembrolizumab can reduce the risk of recurrence or death in patients with completely resected stage IIB-IV melanoma compared to KEYTRUDA alone," said Professor Georgina Long, the study’s principal investigator and medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia, Chair of Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research at the University of Sydney. "Intismeran in combination with pembrolizumab has the potential to establish a new treatment paradigm in the adjuvant melanoma setting, helping patients remain cancer-free for longer."

"By intervening earlier in the course of disease, when many cancers are considered most treatable, the goal of adjuvant therapy given after surgery is to increase the possibility of cure for more patients," said Dr. Dean Y. Li, president, Merck Research Laboratories. "These first Phase 3 findings for intismeran in combination with KEYTRUDA as adjuvant therapy reinforce the promise of a more personalized approach to cancer treatment. We believe individualized neoantigen therapies have the potential to redefine how patients with completely resected stage IIB-IV melanoma are treated. Together with Moderna, we look forward to presenting data from INTerpath-001 at an international medical meeting and sharing with regulatory authorities."

"These Phase 3 findings represent a pivotal moment for the field of cancer research. For many years, the idea of creating an mRNA treatment designed specifically for an individual patient’s cancer was aspirational. We are now helping turn that vision into a reality," said Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna. "Together with Merck, we have started to demonstrate the transformative potential of this technology to address critical unmet needs in the adjuvant melanoma setting. We are deeply grateful to the patients, investigators and study teams whose contributions make this progress possible."

Merck and Moderna are advancing the robust INTerpath clinical development program evaluating the safety and efficacy of intismeran in combination with KEYTRUDA and other anti-cancer therapies, and as a monotherapy. The INTerpath program currently consists of nine total Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials across multiple tumor types and stages of disease, including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), bladder cancer and renal cell carcinoma. Additional clinical studies include the Phase 2b KEYNOTE-942/mRNA-4157-P201 trial in adjuvant melanoma and a Phase 1 study exploring adjuvant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, perioperative gastric carcinoma and perioperative NSCLC.

Today’s Phase 3 readout builds on previously reported Phase 2b results for intismeran in combination with KEYTRUDA from the KEYNOTE-942/mRNA-4157-P201 trial, including the five-year follow-up data presented at the 2026 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, in which the combination demonstrated a 49% reduction in the risk of recurrence or death (HR=0.51; [95% CI, 0.294-0.887]) and a 59% reduction in the risk of distant metastasis or death (HR=0.411; [95% CI, 0.200-0.843]) compared to KEYTRUDA alone.

About INTerpath-001
INTerpath-001 is a randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-comparator-controlled global Phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05933577) evaluating the safety and efficacy of intismeran in combination with KEYTRUDA compared to KEYTRUDA alone in patients with high-risk (stage IIB-IV) resected cutaneous melanoma. The trial enrolled 1,137 patients who, following complete surgical resection, were randomized 2:1 to receive intismeran (1 mg every three weeks for up to nine doses) and KEYTRUDA (400 mg every six weeks up to nine cycles [for approximately one year]) versus KEYTRUDA alone for approximately one year until disease recurrence or unacceptable toxicity, or for a total treatment duration of up to approximately 56 weeks, whichever was sooner.

The primary endpoint is RFS, defined as the time from randomization to any disease recurrence (local, locoregional, regional or distant) as assessed by the investigator, or death due to any cause. Key secondary endpoints include DMFS, OS, safety, tolerability and quality of life.

About intismeran autogene
Intismeran autogene (intismeran; V940 or mRNA-4157) is a novel, potential first-in-class investigational messenger RNA (mRNA)-based individualized neoantigen therapy (INT) jointly developed by Merck and Moderna. Intismeran is designed and produced using a patient’s tumor sample to identify the unique mutational signature, or "fingerprint," of their cancer and generate an anti-tumor immune response. Each therapy consists of a synthetic mRNA coding for up to 34 neoantigens and is tailored to the unique biology of an individual patient’s tumor. Upon administration, the RNA-encoded neoantigen sequences are translated in the body and presented to the immune system, a key step in generating specific T-cell responses against cancer cells. Individualized neoantigen therapies are designed to train and activate an anti-tumor immune response based on the unique mutational signature of a patient’s tumor.

About melanoma
Melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of pigment-producing cells. The rates of melanoma have been rising over the past few decades, with more than 330,000 new cases diagnosed worldwide in 2022. In the U.S., skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed, and melanoma accounts for a large majority of skin cancer deaths. It is estimated there will be about 112,000 new cases of melanoma diagnosed and over 8,500 deaths resulting from the disease in the U.S. in 2026 alone. Despite advances in treatment, patients with resected melanoma remain at risk of disease recurrence, which most often occurs within the first two years. The majority of recurrences are metastatic rather than localized, highlighting the ongoing need for treatment approaches that may help reduce the risk of recurrence and improve long-term outcomes.

(Press release, Merck & Co, AUG 19, 2026, View Source [SID1234670226])